Pregnancy brings with it a whole new language. We've compiled a short list of some abbreviations you may come across in the pregnancy or teen pregnancy forums, or in your research elsewhere. If you would like to add an abbreviation you don't see listed, please post to the suggestions forum and we'll upload it for you.




2ww two week waiting period (time between ovulation & pregnancy test results)

a

a = adoption
aa = hepatitis test
abo = blood test to check what your blood group is
ac = abdominal circumference
af = aunt flo/period/menses/menstraution
afp = alpha - feto protein (blood test offered at 16-18weeks to assess risk of down syndrome and spina bifida)
ai = artificial insemination
alb = albumin (a protein found in urine)
anc = antenatal clinic
ap = attachment parenting
apa = antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
aph = ante-partum haemorrhage (bleeding during pregnancy)
arm = artificial rupture of membrane (having your water broken)
art assisted reproductive technology
a/s/l = age/sex/location
atty = a thousand thank yous

b

bbt = basel body temperature
b/c = because
bc = birth control;before children
bcps = birth control pills
bd = baby dance (sex)
bf = boyfriend/breastfed
bfing =breastfeeding
bfn = big fat negative
bfp = big fat postitive
bil =brother in law
bk = before kids
bm =breast milk
bms = baby making sex
bno = bowels not opened
bo = bowels opened
bp = blood pressure
bpd = bi parietal diameter (the measurement of the diameter of your baby’s head from ear to ear)
br = breech
bt = blood test
btdt = been there done that
bump = the little bundle of joy inside of you; also, it is another way to get your post to the top of the board so more people can see it
bwl = bursting with laughter

c

c/ceph. = cephalic (baby is lying head down)
c/o = complaining of
cd = cycle day
cf = cervical fluid
cio = cry it out
circ = circumcise
cm = cervical mucus
cnp = continued (in my) next post
cp = cervical position
crl = crown to rump length (from the of the head to the bum)
cs = caesarian section
ctg = cardiotocograph (the machine used to measure contractions and baby’s heart rate over a period of time)
cvs = chorionic villus sampling
cx = cervix (neck of the womb)

d

=d = equal to dates (normally seen in the fundal height column of your notes; indicates uterus is measuring correctly for the age of the pregnancy)
d&c = dilation & curettage
da = daycare
date = date of antenatal visit
dd = dear daughter
dh = dear hubby or darn husband
dhac = doesn't/dont' has a clue
dltbbb = don't let the bed bugs bite
dil = daughter in law
dna = did not attend (an appointment)
dpo = day past ovulation
ds = darling son
dtd = do the deed/sex
dw = dear wife
dys = describe your self

e

e/eng = engaged (bab'ys head had dropped into the pelvis)
ebf = extended breastfeeding
ebm =espressed breast milk
edc = estimated date of confinement
edd = estimated delivery/due date
elp = erect lateral pelvimetry (x-ray of pelvis)
elscs = emergency lower segment caesarean section
eme = email me
emsg = email message
eml = estended maternity leave
emu = email you
endo = endometriosis
epo = evening primrose oil
epu = early pregnancy unit
ewcm = eggwhite cervical mucus

f

f/d = forceps delivery
f2f = face-to-face
fau = fetal assessment unit
fb = family bed
fbc = full blood count
fbs = foetal blood sample/fasting blood sugar
fc = fingers crossed
fe = iron supplements
ff = formula feeding
fhh = fetal heart heard
fil = father-in-law
fl = femoral length (thigh bone)
fmc = foetal movement chart (kick chart)
fmf = fetal movement felt
fmu first morning urine
fsh follicle-stimulating hormone
ft = full-time
ftr = for the record
ftsahd = full-time stay-at-home dad
ftsahm = full-time stay-at-home mom
ftwd = full-time working dad
ftwm = full-time working mom

g

*g* = grin
ga = general anaesthetic
gf = girlfriend
gmta = great minds think alike
gn = good night
gs = gestational surrogacy
gtt = glucose tolerance test
gyn = gynecologist

h

h&k = hug and kiss
h/ar = head/abdomen ratio
h/b = heartbeat
hb = haemoglobin
hc = head circumference
hcg = human chorionic gonadotropin (the hormone first detected by pregnancy tests)
hf = height of fundus (the height of the top of the womb that gives an idea of the pregnancy stage; similar to the number of weeks that you are pregnant.



Hh = household
hpt = home pregnancy test
hsg = hysterosalpingogram (an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes)
ht = hypertension (blood pressure)
hth = hope that helps

i

icsi = intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (sometimes used with in-vitro fertilization)
if= infertility
im = intra muscular
inciid inter national council on infertility information dissemination
ip = intended parent
isa = independent surrogacy arrangement
iugr = intra uterine growth retardation (small fetus for its age)
iui intrauterine insemination (artificial insemination)
iv = intravenous (going into vein)
ivi = intra venous infusion (drip)
ivf in vitro fertilization (fertilized egg is put into uterus)

j

k

l

l&d = labor an delivery
la = local anasthetic
lap laparoscopic surgery
lh leutenizing hormone (detected by opks)
lmp last menstrual period
loa = left occiput anterior (the back of baby’shead is to the rear left side of your abdomen, which makes delivery easier)
lop =left occiput posterior (back of baby.S head is to the rear left side of your abdomen, which makes delivery more difficult)
long = longitudinal lie (baby is lying parallel to your spine)
lp = luteal phase
lpd = luteal phase defect
lscs = lower segment caesarean section

m

m/c or mc = miscarriage
m/s = morning sickness
mat lv = maternity leave
mec = meconium (baby's early bowel movements)
mil = mother in law
mssu = mid-stream sample urine
multigravida: a woman who has been pregnant before
mw = midwife

n

n/d = normal delivery
nad = nothing abnormal detected
nbd = no big deal
ne = not engaged
nicu = neonatal intensive care unit
nnu = neonatal unit
npu = not passed urine

o
o = ovulation
oa = occiput anterior
ob = obstetrician
oc = oral contraception
oe = on examination
oed/oedema = another name for swelling
op = occiput posterior (the baby’s spine is next to yours, which can result in a more painful labor)
opk = ovulation predictor kit

p

palp = palpable – how much the baby’s head is palpable; can be felt (1/5 means nearly engaged, 4/5 indicates that your baby has started to engage, etc.)
para 0 = woman has no other children
para 1 =
pco = polycystic ovarian syndrome
pcos = polycystic ovarian syndrome
pct = post coital test
pet = pre-eclamptic toxaemia
pid = pelvic inflammatory disease
pih = pregnancy induced hypertension (high bp)
pg = pregnant
pmh = past medical history
pms = pre-menstrual syndrome
poas = pee on a stick (referring to hpt)
piac = pee in a cup (referring to hpt)
pp = presenting part (the part of the baby that is lying lowest)
pph = post partum haemorrhage (bleed after baby is born)
pr = via rectum
prego = pregnant
presentation = the way in which the baby is lying
primip = primigravida (first pregnancy) or primiparous (has had one baby)
prog = progesterone
pu = passed urine
pv = via vagina

q

r

re = reproductive endocrinologist (specializes in infertility)
reg = registrar
relation of pp to brim = doctors and midwives divide the baby's head into 'fifths' and describe how far the head has moved into the pelvis by judging how may 'fifths' of the head they can feel above the bone at the front (or the brim). A figure of 2/5 means that the head is engaged and only two-fifths of it can be felt above the brim.



Rh = rhesus
rx = prescription

s

sa semen analysis
scbu = special care baby unit
sfd = small for dates
sfh = symphysis fundal height (measurement of the length of the womb in centimetres)
show soft, high, open, wet (cervical discription at peak fertility)
sil sister-in-law
so significant other
spd = symphisis pubis dysfunction (loosening of cartilage at front of pubic bone)

t

tca = to come again
tci = to come into hospital
tos = trial of scar
tr = transverse presentation (the baby is lying across your abdomen, as if it were a cradle)
tr or = a trace found in urine results
tsh = thyroid-stimulating hormone
tta = trying to avoid
ttc = trying to conceive
ttc2l = trying to conceive for too long

u

u & e = blood test checking urea and electrolyte levels
u/s = ultrasound
uss = ultrasound scan
uti = urinary tract infection

v

ve = positive
-ve = negative
vbac = vaginal birth after caesarean section
ve = vaginal examination
vx = vertex (baby is lying head down, same as cephalic)

w

x

y

z